Exploring the relative importance of the factors associated with menopausal symptoms using a random forest model: a cross-sectional study.
Meejung Chin, Sowon Hahn, Yeon Soo Kim and 8 others
PMID 41090271WHAT IT FOUND
Among 94 Korean women, age, psychological well-being, loneliness, relative grip strength and body fat were the factors most strongly linked with moderate-to-severe menopausal symptoms.
Higher well-being and grip strength tracked with fewer symptoms; loneliness and body fat with more.
Key findings
01The final model classified moderate-to-severe symptoms with 74.1% accuracy, 78.9% sensitivity and 62.5% specificity in the test set.
02Age was the strongest predictor, followed by psychological well-being and loneliness.
03Relative grip strength was inversely associated with symptom probability, and body fat percentage was positively associated.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study was cross-sectional, so it cannot show that any factor caused menopausal symptoms. The sample was small, with 94 women analysed, and the final model was tested on only 27 participants. Participants were mainly middle-class women in Seoul; 70.2% had college degrees or higher and 58.5% were employed. The study excluded women using sleep medications, women unable to attend in-person assessments, women without Android smartphones and women with insufficient Korean proficiency. Most participants had moderate or severe symptoms, 65 participants, which may limit how well the model applies to women with milder symptoms. The model's specificity was 62.5%, so it was less accurate at identifying women without moderate or severe symptoms. Physical activity was measured for only 8 days, and many variables were self-reported.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflict of interest. The work was supported by a Seoul National University research grant.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read age, psychological well-being, loneliness, grip strength, body fat, activity or diet as causes of menopausal symptoms. This was a cross-sectional model in 94 Korean women, so it shows association and prediction only, not that changing any factor improves symptoms.